Essential Oils: Top Seven Heavenly Uses and Benefits

Essential oils are the highly fragrant oils that are extracted from a plant’s root, leaves, stems, flower, or bark. These oils are usually obtained through two methods: pressed or steamed. Essential oils have been used for thousands of years in everything from holistic care to aesthetic purposes. Many are sold in small quantities due to the high potency of the oil. What’s wonderful about essential oil is that they are available in so many fragrances, which only increases its wonderful variety of uses.

1. Natural Perfume

I do enjoy wearing perfume but many perfumes are filled with unrecognizable chemicals. Many people have allergies to perfume, some of which can be extremely burdensome to the sinuses. Essential oils can be mixed and matched to create the perfect unique scent for a person. The lack of chemicals such as parabens and other irritants found in other perfumes can greatly reduce the irritation to a person’s sinuses. You get the best of both worlds!

2. Cleaning

Like perfume, so many cleaning products contain harsh chemicals. Making your own cleaning solution at home with vinegar and water is an excellent way to reduce irritants while maintaining a clean, germ free space. However, vinegar is not the best smelling substance. Adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil helps to mask the powerful vinegar scent while leaving your home clean and smelling wonderful.

3. Relaxation

Certain plants and flowers like lavender and chamomile have soothing, therapeutic properties. During a massage, adding a few drops of lavender essential oil to your massage oil or lotion can add an extra element of relaxation. Also, try this technique in a steam room or sauna (ahhhh…).

4. Hair and Skin

Adding essential oils to your own hair and skin products can help them fit your own unique sense of smell. Not all hair and body products smell the same, some of which aren’t that pleasant. A few drops of your favorite essential oil is a great quick fix.

5. Air Freshener

Various aromas throughout your home can be wonderful, but store bought air fresheners are typically expensive and also contain so many crazy–i –can’t–pronounce chemicals. Some great alternatives include adding a few drops on your linens (curtains, sheets, towels). For the bathroom, try adding a few drops to the inside of the toilet roll for a “secret” air freshener.

6. Medicinal

Most of us have had a cold where our nose is all stuffed up. You feel like you just can’t breathe! Well, essential oils can help with that too! Essential oils such as eucalyptus can be helpful in clearing a stuffed nasal passage. To clear stuffed sinuses, try adding a few drops to your soap or face wash while in a hot shower.

7. Keep The Bugs Away

Whether it’s winter, spring, or summer, bugs always seem to be around. Rather than spraying the worst smelling and poisonous chemicals around your home and family, opt to make your own bug spray! Spiders, for example, seem to have an aversion to lemons. Keep those pesky critters away with a mix of water, lemon oil and a little soap!